THE Church Commissioners’ Net Zero Carbon Programme is one of the “fundamental aspects of our Christian mission”, the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, who leads on the environment, has said.
The programme, which was established in 2020 after being approved by the General Synod (News, 14 February 2020), supports the Church’s goal to achieve net-zero carbon by 2030. This includes reducing carbon emissions in parishes, dioceses, cathedrals, schools and other buildings, and through work-related transport.
In July 2022, Synod members approved the routemap to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 (News, 15 July 2022), seeking to decrease the Church’s emissions by 90 per cent against the current baseline. In 2023, the Commissioners’ announced £30 million would be allocated to fund a range of schemes to support this goal over the next five years (News, 20 October 2023).
The latest Net Zero Carbon Impact Report, published last week, states: “Any remaining emissions (no more than 10 per cent) will be offset in verified schemes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.” Although the findings “suggest an overall reduction in carbon emissions compared to 2021, the totals are not directly comparable due to improvements in the assessment methods”, it says.
The highest carbon-emitting buildings are schools (38 per cent), housing (21 per cent), medium-sized churches (14 per cent), and large churches (nine per cent).
Organisational travel accounts for five per cent of all emissions, and so do church halls. Cathedrals are at three per cent, and offices at one per cent.
“We know this is hugely challenging but caring for God’s creation and reducing the impact we have upon our planet are fundamental aspects of our Christian mission,” the report says.
In 2024, the Net Zero Carbon programme funded 102 projects to decarbonise heating systems in schools, along with 33 public-sector decarbonisation scheme applications. The programme funded £490,494, and helped to lever in £5.9 million worth of government funding.
To help cathedrals to carry out technical surveys, £600,000 was allocated, and an additional £600,000 was released as part of the Boiler Replacement Hardship Fund to help churches pay for a carbon-friendly heating solution when their boiler fails.
A vicarage in Bristol has been renovated with new pipework, radiators, an air-source heat pump, loft insulation, and solar panels. The Priest-in-Charge, the Revd Derek Maddox, and his family, live in the 1970s building, together with a Ukrainian family. In the report, Mr Maddox says : “We think that our bills will be halved, if not more. It will need less energy to heat the house due to the improvements to the building, and alongside an all-electric highly efficient heating system, it means that we can be net zero.” This is part of the diocese of Bristol’s programme to make 130 clergy houses more fuel-efficient.
The Net Zero Programme’s pilot match-funding scheme, Give to Go Green, has raised £503,000 — matched by £452,000 — for green projects across 71 churches in eight dioceses.
Bishop Usher said: “Our work to reverse the damage we have done to the world, through our care, prayer, and action, is also a chance to live our faith alongside our neighbours and those we might not usually get the chance to engage with.”
The Net Zero Programme director, Julian Atkins, said: “We recognise that achieving net zero is a complex challenge, and many churches are finding it harder to achieve for a whole host of reasons — that’s why we have dedicated grants and support available to help them on this journey.”